Owning a home is a big responsibility. Becoming a homeowner requires a certain amount of knowledge when it comes to fixing and maintaining your space.

• Unclogging a toilet: There are certain things you need to call a plumber for, but a clogged toilet isn’t really one of them. Invest in a plunger, rubber gloves and a bucket, and make sure you know where the water supply valve is if your toilet is about to overflow.

• Gutter maintenance: One of the best ways to prevent pests and avoid water damage to your home is to keep your gutters clear, and to do so twice a year. How you do this (with your hands, leaf blower, vacuum or garden hose), is completely up to you.

• Replacing furnace filters: Lots of homeowners overlook their furnace filters, but changing them regularly is a great way to maintain your furnace’s efficiency. Make sure you know what kind of filter to use, turn off your furnace before you do so, and remove the service panel. Always consult your furnace manual first.

• Replacing a shower head: Your shower head can have a big effect on your water consumption and utility bills, especially if you replace your old one with a more efficient model. It’s as easy as unscrewing the old one and replacing it!

• Caulking: Between your windows, doors and electrical outlets, your home has a lot of cracks and potential for losing cool air during the summer and hot air during the winter. This is easily fixed by using a caulking gun to fill the gaps, saving on your home heating or cooling bill.

• Leaky faucet: This is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to wasted water. And while it doesn’t seem like much, a tap that drips once every minute wastes more than 30 gallons of water per year. Fixing a leaky faucet requires knowing how to shut off your water, using a bit of elbow grease and perhaps replacing your handle’s O-ring.

Find out what other home maintenance you can do yourself with our spring home maintenance checklist, from Bryan’s Fuel in Orangeville.